Comparison of Environmental Contaminants on Georges Bank and Stellwagon Bank - Metals
Project Leader: Emily Monosson, Mt. Holyoke College
Additional Participants:
David Lincoln, Commonwealth Corporation
Angela Sanfilippo, Gloucester Fishermen's Wives Association
and over 14 commerical fisherman

"This project investigated the potential for contaminant-induced effects on reproduction and development in both nearshore and offshore cod. Heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and oganochlorine pesticides (including DDTs) were measured in cod livers and gonads and sediments from Stellwagen Bank, Georges Bank, and Wilkinson Basin. In general, concentrations of most contaminants were found to be near or below detection limits in cod gonads. Several contaminants were detected in the cod liver including PCBs and DDTs. However, concentrations from Georges Bank were drastically lower than previously published data and below concentrations linked with reproductive or developmental toxicity in fish. Analysis of heavy metals suggests that the concentrations of metals measured in this study are within range of those previously reported in cod except for cadmium. The vast majority of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals detected in sediments were below NOAA's Threshold Effects Levels and chlorinated pesticides were below detection limits in the sediments. No one chemical was consistently detected at concentrations suspected of causing adverse effects in cod or their offspring. It would appear that levels of exposure to the chemical contaminants measured are unlikely to have had a considerable impact on the nearshore or offshore cod fishery."extracted from: Summary of Completed Cooperative Research Projects Funded by the Northeast Consortium, January 2006

Data Elements
Parameter Names and Descriptions:

Female fish were targeted where a sufficient number of females could be collected, otherwise males were included in the collection. All data on fish tissues are reported as fresh weight or wet weight.

For more detailed information see: Final Report

Questions concerning these data should be directed to:
Emily Monosson
Mt. Holoyoke College

Phone: 413 367-0052
E-mail: emonosson@forwild.umass.edu

revised Sept 01, 2006; gfh